benbo or manfrotto?

can't decide between benbo trekker3 with a ben299 ballhead or manfratto 190xprob with a mn496rc2.To be used with 450d ,70-200 2.8 is,100mm,17-85mm.Any comments ,suggestions.thanks in advance

give a price range please. because i just got an induro c413 and a vangaurd sbh-250 ballhead for like 260

Manfrotto's got the track record of excellent products. Benbo is a knockoff which may be OK, other people here may be able to speak for it.

Benbo isn't Benro.

Benbo is certainly not a knockoff.
Review: http://blog.davidburre​n.com …benbo-trekker-tripod.html

Quite a nice tripod for landscape and macro, because of it's versatility.
Drawbacks: only 2 leg sections. "Not so good" ballhead.

What do you want to use it for?

René Damkot wrote in post #10682958
Benbo isn't Benro.

Benbo is certainly not a knockoff.

My mistake, just hadn't ever heard of it and I did mistake it for Benro.

René Damkot wrote in post #10682958
Benbo isn't Benro.

Benbo is certainly not a knockoff.
Review: http://blog.davidburre​n.com …benbo-trekker-tripod.html

Quite a nice tripod for landscape and macro, because of it's versatility.
Drawbacks: only 2 leg sections. "Not so good" ballhead.

What do you want to use it for?

landscape,portrait and want to try macro.

Benbo has been around for a while. Extremely versatile--conforms to irregular landscape; legs are sealed to the first joint. So they handle a little water well. You can dunk them, to a point. I don't own one; wish I did.
I chose a Manfrotto for studio use, way back when. Don't like it--heavy, and should replace the tripod head I chose.
When I win the lottery, I'll buy a light one...
Unfortunately I've spent my allowance.

2mnycars wrote in post #10684483
Benbo has been around for a while. Extremely versatile--conforms to irregular landscape; legs are sealed to the first joint. So they handle a little water well. You can dunk them, to a point. I don't own one; wish I did.
I chose a Manfrotto for studio use, way back when. Don't like it--heavy, and should replace the tripod head I chose.
When I win the lottery, I'll buy a light one...
Unfortunately I've spent my allowance.

Benbo aka Bent Bolt has been around for decades.. I have a Benbo Classic with a huge Manfrotto head, I bought in the mid 1980s.. I don't use it any more but it's in the attic of my house in Australia.. These are one tough mother of a tripod, best suited for medium format and large format cameras.. Fully extended mine is about 7' tall,, not a tripod to take trekking..

Not an easy tripod to get used to.. If not familiar with them they act like out of control bagpipes

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I coveted one for a while. Then I tried handling one in a store. Twisted my mind. I can see its benefit. Best feature for me would be its sealed legs for use in water (fresh, not salt.)

DaveL

benbo or Benro? I picked up a Benro C-2681 with a B-1 Ballhead and that tripod is rock solid and compact.

2mnycars wrote in post #10923878
I coveted one for a while. Then I tried handling one in a store. Twisted my mind. I can see its benefit. Best feature for me would be its sealed legs for use in water (fresh, not salt.)

DaveL

Benbo..

Yep,, but once you've mastered their set up, the Benbos are fantastic tripods.. Built to last a lifetime..

yogestee wrote in post #10918534
If not familiar with them they act like out of control bagpipes

We had a Benbo Trekker and that is exactly how it behaved.

Rob

I figured out the Benbo after one day of use. Not really any more difficult than anything else. Kind of like the spouse, You have to show it who's boss.

tvphotog wrote in post #10683001
My mistake, just hadn't ever heard of it and I did mistake it for Benro.

Trust me, the choice of the name 'Benro' was not an accident.

I'm surprised we aren't seeing 'Schizo' and 'Scamfrotto' gear on the market . . .

To the point: While the Benbo name continues, the original designer of the 'bent bolt' tripod, Ken Brett, left the company and started another one -- Uni-loc. It offers similar products with, IMO, improvements. Uni-loc is not easy to find in the U.S.

If you're going to be using the tripod outdoors, especially near the ground and/or on uneven terrain, the bent bolt tripods are terrific. And I'm with HoosierJoe; once you learn how to handle one, other tripods seems very limiting.

Thanks for the name of designer and his new company name. It's time I put my old studio tripod out of its misery It's too darn heavy for outside use. (My Scottish heritage is showing, keeping it going so long. My bad. )